Fork in the left hand, knife in the right. The hand that holds the knife and fork is fixed, with the right hand holding the knife and the left hand holding the fork. The index finger of the hand holding the knife is pressed against the back handle of the fork so that it can be used with force. Forks are not only used for pressing food and forking things, but also for scooping beans and rice.

If it is not convenient to hold a fork with your left hand, you can use your right hand, but you must put the knife down first. When you leave the table during a meal, you must place your knife and fork in a figure-eight position on the plate. At the end of the meal, they are placed parallel and diagonally at the five o'clock position.

Knives, forks and spoons are placed next to the plate. The order of eating is: appetizers, soups, dishes, fish, meat, and so on, from the outside in. On the left hand side is a bread plate and a butter knife, and on the opposite side of the decorative plate are spoons, knives and forks for coffee and snacks.

Expanded Information

Western dining etiquette

Ladies first. When seating for a Western dinner, the hostess is invited to sit at the head table, while the man is seated second. To the right as the honor. In the arrangement of seating, the right is the most honored. Facing the door. The one who faces the main door is seated at the top, and the one whose back is to the main door is seated at the bottom.

Cross-arrangement. Men and women are cross-arranged, and strangers and acquaintances are cross-arranged. American table manners from the seat, take a napkin, start, take the tableware, leave the table, all have their own set of rules, and one of the seating and tableware arrangements, the host will be prepared before the meal, no need to bother. However, you should familiarize yourself with the order and function of the cutlery so that you don't get it wrong.　

After the hostess announces that dinner is ready, the host leads the guests to their seats, with the hostess at the end of the line. Some careful hosts place name cards on the table to indicate the order of seating, but in the absence of such an arrangement, the principle is as follows

The seating arrangement is based on the principle that men and women are segregated. The male guest of honor is seated to the right of the hostess, while the female guest of honor is seated to the right of the host. Other couples are seated diagonally. The separation of male and female couples shows the openness and liveliness of American banquets, and it is hoped that the arrangement of seating at banquets will enhance familiarity with each other and lead to diversification of meal topics and a harmonious atmosphere.　

The principle of seating is that the guest is seated first, the elder is seated first, the married is seated first, the unmarried is seated first, and the stranger is seated first, compared to a familiar guest or family member.

It is polite to the chef not to dip the bread in sauce and eat it until there is no sauce left. Be careful not to "lick" the bread plate clean, but use a fork to hold the bread that has been torn into small slices, and then dip it in a little sauce to eat, this is the elegant way to do it.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Western Cuisine